By David Fierro
They pressured the quarterback, slowed down the opposition’s running game and even put points on the scoreboard – indeed, Greenwich High School’s football team’s defense did it all against a tough St. Joseph squad yesterday.
Strong, productive defensive play was the theme of the game for the Cardinals, who needed their ‘D’ to be in top form on a day when their offense faced a stern challenge against St. Joseph.
Forcing three turnovers, one of which was returned for a touchdown, Greenwich’s defense was at its best in a hard-fought 23-9 win over St. Joseph in a key FCIAC matchup in Trumbull.
Ranked No. 1 in the GameTimeCT Top-10 Football Poll, the Cardinals raised their record to a perfect 7-0, heading into Saturday’s 1 p.m. game against FCIAC foe Westhill in Stamford.
While Greenwich continued its undefeated season, St. Joseph’s record stands at 4-3 following the loss in a game in which it trailed just 16-9, in the fourth quarter.
“That’s a team that’s playing for their playoff lives and we knew that,” Greenwich coach Anthony Morello said of St. Joseph. “Ultimately, I’m proud of our team for sticking it out. It’s very hard to go undefeated in FCIAC football.”
Holding a seven-point lead late in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals went two scores ahead, courtesy of defensive back Jack Carroll. With the ball on its own 42-yard line, St. Joseph put the ball in the air, freshman quarterback Harry Jones throwing a pass over the middle. The ball deflected off the intended receiver and was snared in the air by Carroll at the 45-yard line. Carroll then sprinted 45 yards to the end zone, while being surrounded and followed by several of his defensive teammates, extending Greenwich’s advantage to 23-9 with 2:34 remaining in the fourth quarter.
“We were in man cover zero,” Carroll said of his interception for a touchdown. “The ball went off his head, I got it, made my move and got to the end zone.”
Indeed, it’s not often that a defensive player reaches the end zone, so Carroll relished the scenario.
“It felt great,” Carroll said. “I never got a pick six before, it felt great to get it today.”
Coached by Joe Dellavecchia, St. Joe threatened to score on the ensuing drive, behind a pair of completed passes by Jones, the Cards produced another key interception. This time, senior linebacker/captain Sebastian Parra rose to the occasion. Jones threw a pass from the Cardinals’ 20-yard line to the 1-yard line that was intercepted in spectacular fashion by Parra, who leaped and made caught the ball with one hand near the goal line, thwarting the home team’s drive.
“That was amazing, I saw the ball in the air, I didn’t think I could reach it, so I just put my one arm up and I got it,” Parra said of his one-handed interception that sealed the Cardinals’ triumph. “I thought we were amazing, it was good to come out here give it 100 percent and play well. They played 100 percent, the crowd was pretty crazy.”
Morello appreciated his defensive unit’s overall performance. Over the past four games, Greenwich has allowed only 23 points.
“The tenacity and physicality of our defense was impressive,” Morello noted. “They were relentless on the quarterback all day long, forcing him to get rid of the football quickly. They weren’t able to run the football and when they passed, our secondary was there to break it up. I felt comfortable with the seven-point because of the way our defense was playing.”
The Cardinals scored the first points in this FCIAC matchup, reaching the end zone in the opening quarter. Senior quarterback Rocco Grillo completed a pass to senior wide receiver Gavyn Gennarelli in the flat on the left side and Gennarelli dashed into the end zone for a 10-yard TD. Erick Perino, a senior, converted the PAT, giving Greenwich a 7-0 lead.
St. Joe reached the Cardinals’ red zone in the second quarter after junior defensive back TJ Wright picked off a Grillo pass and returned it to the GHS 10-yard line. Yet the Hogs were unable to tie the score, as their drive ended at the 1-yard line. Parra and senior defensive back Nick Aravides combined for a key tackle on first down and goal and on fourth down, Parra and junior defensive back Noah Steele teamed up to make a stop with 5:04 left in the second quarter.
Perino split the uprights for a 21-yard field goal, putting Greenwich on top, 10-0, entering halftime. The field goal was set up by a punt return of more than 20 yards by senior Brandon Auguste and a pair of scrambles for significant yards by Grillo.
Grillo scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak up the middle with 35 seconds to go in the third quarter, increasing the Cardinals’ edge to 16-0. Senior wideout Jake Stefanowicz made an impressive leaping reception and senior running back George Vomvolakis made a pair of key runs to pace the scoring drive.
“The offense did a good job of not staying down,” said GHS senior linebacker/captain John Insinga, who once again, made his formidable presence felt throughout. “The offense put another touchdown on the board, which was key for us.”
St. Joseph closed to within 16-6 with 10:34 left in the fourth quarter when junior Jesse Covino bulled his way into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown. The Hogs were in prime position to score a second touchdown after taking over at the GHS 10-yard line on a muffed snap on a punt. Yet the Cardinals held St. Joe to a 27-yard field goal, kicked by Logan Spoelestra at the 6:01 mark of the fourth quarter. Insinga, Parra and senior linebacker Jaden Scott helped pace Greenwich’s goal line stand.
“Three times the defense went out there on short fields and they did a great job,” Morello said. “Overall, the defense refused to give up an inch.”
St. Joseph’s defense was also tough against a Cardinals’ offense, which has flourished this season. Greenwich scored 30 or more points in its previous four games.
“Credit to St. Joe’s defensive coordinator and all the defensive coaches over there,” Morello said. “They schemed us well and they made our quarterback have to make some tough decisions. St. Joe’s is a great program, they have great traditions and I have great respect for coach (Joe) DellaVecchia.”
Greenwich defeated St. Joseph at Cardinal Stadium, but Saturday’s triumph marked its first win at St. Joseph since 2004.
“We knew that they were a good team,” Insinga said. “We haven’t beaten them in 19 years on their home turf. This is going to be a great mood-setter for the rest of the season. When a team is 6-0 close game like that it lets you know that it’s possible to lose and it’s possible for your streak to end, so it was a good game for us.”
Said Aravides: “We have a lot of respect for their coach. He’s been in the business in the while and has won a lot of state championships. We knew that schematically they were going to be a really good team. So, we tried to play complementary football and in the second half we had a lot of success.”
